Secretary-General Strongly Condemns Deadly Attack on United Nations Camp in Mali as Reprehensible, Encourages Peaceful Resolution to Conflict

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General condemns in the strongest terms today’s attack in Mali that killed two Malian children and a Chadian United Nations peacekeeper and injured 11 peacekeepers and three civilians.

The deadly mortar and rocket fire on a camp of the United Nations Multinational Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in Kidal resulted in at least four shells landing inside the camp and on a civilian dwelling outside the camp.

The killing of United Nations peacekeepers and civilian Malians is intolerable and a breach of international humanitarian law.  This flagrant attempt to obstruct progress at a crucial moment in the Malian peace process is reprehensible.

The Secretary-General encourages all Malians to reject such violence and intimidation and to continue efforts to arrive at a peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The Secretary-General extends his deepest sympathies to the families of the peacekeeper and the children who lost their lives in this attack, and his sincere wishes for the full and speedy recovery of those injured.  He also expresses his condolences to the Government and people of Chad.